Photographer Ozan Sağdıç honored with Aydın Doğan Award

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Doğan Foundation Chair Aydın Doğan presented a monetary award of 50,000 Turkish Liras and an award statuette to Sağdıç. DHA Photo

The 18th Aydın Doğan Award, which was given this year in the field of photography, was presented at an April 17 ceremony to master photographer Ozan Sağdıç in recognition of his lifetime of service to his field.

The award’s selection committee unanimously selected Sağdıç thanks to his contributions to Turkey’s visual memory over the past six decades. The committee also presented its service award to the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Photography Department for its work in developing the field of photography.
Speaking at the ceremony, Doğan Online Chair Woman Hanzade Doğan Boyner said Sağdıç had pioneered the art of photography in the country.

“Sağdıç, who developed an interest in photography while attending high school, started his career in 1956 at Hayat magazine and became one of the first representatives of socialist documentaries and photojournalism in our country. He carried Henri Cartier Bresson’s école of realism to Turkey. He made a great contribution to the formation of visual memory in the Republic of Turkey. He gave a special soul to the photos which he took with the identity of a poet. Celebrating Sağdıç here one more time, I hope for the continuation of his contributions to the development of the art of photography in Turkey,” she said.
Boyner also celebrated the students and academics of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s Photography Department for receiving the Service Award.

Following the speech, Doğan Foundation Chair Aydın Doğan presented a monetary award of 50,000 Turkish Liras and an award statuette to Sağdıç.

“Luckily, this won’t be a podium speech like at the Oscars or for the Nobel. We will cut it short. I owe many people who allowed me to come to these days. I have a name appreciated by many people. I especially thank my wife, Olcay Sağdıç, who has endured my efforts and laziness with great tolerance for 52 years,” Sağdıç said.

Aydın Doğan also presented the Service Award to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Photography Department Head Professor Nihal Kalfalı.

Born in 1934, Sağdıç’s photographs have appeared in many magazines, reportages, and publications. Besides being a photojournalist, he served as a stage photographer at the State Theaters between 1960 and 1970. Sağdıç also taught the art of photography at Ankara University and Hacettepe University.

Sağdıç was admitted as an honorable member in the Ankara Photographers Association (AFSAD).
The award has been organized by the Aydın Doğan Foundation since 1996 in the name of its founder and is bestowed on one person in a different field each year. The fields for the awards are determined in accordance with current issues and the preferences of the public.

This year’s selection committee was headed by Hürriyet Publishing Consultant Doğan Hızlan and included Ersin Alok, Ozan Bilgiseren, Güler Ertan, Kamil Fırat, Ara Güler, Sabit Kalfagil, Sebati Karakurt, İzzet Keribar and Engin Özendes.

The attendees at this year’s awards ceremony including Aydın Doğan, his wife, Sema Doğan, Doğan Holding CEO Yahya Üzdiyen, daily Hürriyet Chairwoman Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Enis Berberoğlu, Boyner and many other guests.